MP: NOTW 'Impeded' Milly Dowler Inquiry "Several NOTW Journos Hacked Milly's Phone"

The News of the World "impeded" Surrey Police's inquiry into the disappearance of Milly Dowler, a leading MP has said after the force released more details of its contact with the tabloid.
A timeline of Surrey Police's dealings with the now-defunct Sunday paper reveals journalists claimed they had obtained the missing teenager's number and PIN from other schoolchildren.
It also confirms officers did know the paper hacked messages left for Milly but did not pursue it.
John Whittingdale, who chairs the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the document was critical of the News Of The World.
:: Read the document in full
"What it appears to tell is that several journalists at the News of the World were involved in hacking the voicemails left on Milly Dowler's phone," he told Sky News. 
"They did so in pursuit of a story rather than wanting to help the police with their inquiries.
"It appears as if they may have actually interfered or impeded the police in their investigations into what turned into a murder inquiry because they went on claiming they had evidence Milly Dowler was still alive," he added.
The report reveals an unnamed journalist told the force they were in possession of a voicemail message linking the missing schoolgirl to a recruitment agency.
When officers said they believed the messages were a hoax, a reporter said the paper knew "110%" Milly was alive and living in the North of England.
The teenager was later found dead, having been snatched on her way home from school in 2002.
A statement from the Dowler family said the timeline serves as a further reminder of the relationship between the force and the newspaper.
"The report indicates that the police force were aware of a caller purporting to be Sally Dowler seeking information in 2002," Bob and Sally Dowler said through their solicitor.
"No doubt there will be current investigations as to who that was as it was not Sally Dowler. 
"The Surrey Police have not explained why they did not investigate that deception in 2002.

"No thought seems to have been given to the effect on the Dowler family.
"The family await the investigation by Lord Justice Leveson about the relationship between Police forces and the press," it added.
The statement ended with a request for the family to be left alone.
Also contained in the documents submitted to the committee are denials that police officers were the News of the World's source for information regarding the voicemails.
Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee - which has also probed phone hacking - said there were now some "serious questions" for Surrey Police.
"Had they acted in 2002 or had Sussex Police flagged this up in their review of Operation Ruby, it may have prevented the culture of hacking becoming endemic at News of the World," he said.
"The Home Affairs Committee has also received a letter from Surrey Police with additional information to questions posed back in October 2011.
"We will be considering this information carefully and will look into investigating the reasons why Surrey Police did not follow up on this evidence," Mr Vaz added.